Revolting Peasant
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Minimum Headspace
- Thread starter DoneNOut
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DoneNOut
Well-Known Member
Winchester settled with 5K primers and $300
Disclaimer: I didn't read all the prior posts.
Factory brass is more often than not, undersized in the datum length- to assure feed/function in rifles with "tight" headspace dimensions. Using a comparator is fine, but it's not an absolute measurement.
The only way to know what your true headspace is (based on SAAMI dimensions) is with a go gage. Go gage in the chamber, stripped bolt- handle should fall with light resistance (indicating contact with the boltface) at the bottom of the throw to indicate no clearance.
If it falls without resistance, put a dab of grease on the boltface and stick a short piece of skinny electrical solder on it, close the bolt and mike the solder. Now you KNOW your clearance based on SAAMI spec. You can't do this with brass, too much "give" for a precise measurement- you need the hardened gage. Plastigage also works for this application instead of the soft solder.
None of this really matters when you handload- whatever your headspace is (within reason, natch) your brass will stretch to fit. Then use that as you did for your comparator measurements. You can have "zero headspace" with brass at SAAMI spec, or .005 over provided you bump your shoulders to the minimum needed when you resize.
Factory brass is more often than not, undersized in the datum length- to assure feed/function in rifles with "tight" headspace dimensions. Using a comparator is fine, but it's not an absolute measurement.
The only way to know what your true headspace is (based on SAAMI dimensions) is with a go gage. Go gage in the chamber, stripped bolt- handle should fall with light resistance (indicating contact with the boltface) at the bottom of the throw to indicate no clearance.
If it falls without resistance, put a dab of grease on the boltface and stick a short piece of skinny electrical solder on it, close the bolt and mike the solder. Now you KNOW your clearance based on SAAMI spec. You can't do this with brass, too much "give" for a precise measurement- you need the hardened gage. Plastigage also works for this application instead of the soft solder.
None of this really matters when you handload- whatever your headspace is (within reason, natch) your brass will stretch to fit. Then use that as you did for your comparator measurements. You can have "zero headspace" with brass at SAAMI spec, or .005 over provided you bump your shoulders to the minimum needed when you resize.
